ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Poteet Rotary Club seeking a temporary restraining order to allow the group to participate in this weekend’s Strawberry Festival.
After Wednesday’s ruling, the Rotary Club will not be allowed at the Poteet Strawberry Festival this weekend, which takes place from April 10-12.
The judge ruled the dispute belongs in state court rather than federal court.
Court records also show the Rotary Club believes it owns the Poteet Strawberry trademark. The Strawberry Festival Association disputes that claim.
“Everything I’ve seen is that it’s crystal clear, it belongs to the Strawberry Festival Association,” said Melissa Casey, an attorney for the Poteet Strawberry Festival Association. “It has belonged to them for more than 30 years.”
After the hearing, the Rotary Club told KSAT it plans to pursue legal action in Atascosa County Court.
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